- 'Little House on the Prairie' was a hit American TV show
- Michael Landon had the "Walnut Grove" blown up
- THIS happened for the end of the show
In the first eight seasons of the show Michael Landon not only acted played the main character, but was also active as a producer before taking a back seat in the last season. His longtime involvement in the show was very impactful for the cast and crew and Landon's list of anecdotes can go on and on. This particular story is bound to tickle a lot of fans.
Michael went a little overboard with THIS
At the time of the show's ending, a new family had moved into the farmhouse, while Melissa Gilbert's "Laura," now married, took over the lead role. Although ratings dipped last season and the series was canceled, Landon was given the opportunity to round it out. The last episode, "The End of Walnut Grove," was a true finale. In this episode, the residents of "Walnut Grove" learned that a real estate developer had bought up all their land.
Although they tried to resist his claim, they failed and "Laura" eventually inspired them to rise up against the developer by actually blowing up all the properties in "Walnut Grove." The stage was set for an epic conclusion to the famous shows.
The house of the series and the sets were also blown up in real life. But why, exactly? Couldn't they just do special effects? Michael Landon had the sets demolished to prevent their reuse for other programs and to preclude any future reunions. It is speculated that this was revenge for the cancellation of the show itself.
The actor told The New York Times in 1984: "I think it's a good, strong pioneer ending. It was also a nice catharsis for the cast and crew." Landon was known for being outlandishly himself and he must have gotten some joy out of it. "There were a lot of tears when we finally blew up the city. The actors had all become very attached to their own buildings, so it was very emotional" Landon continued. But all good things must come to an end.
Also interesting:
The 'Bonanza' and 'Little House' crossovers
These 'Bonanza' Actors Appeared On 'Little House On The Prairie'
Landon understood why the show was canceled: The ratings were low. He knew nine seasons was quite a run, and NBC even worked it out so he could wrap everything up with three TV movies. Actor John Ivar, who played the head of the family that moved into the "Little House,” took home the actual set for that house, rescuing it from destruction. A replica was put up in its place, but it was destroyed in a fire in 2003.
